PATCH PICKS: Valentine's Weekend Restaurants

1. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Make your reservations at  in Pikesville, and treat yourself to a night of sophisticated indulgence. A special Valentine’s Day menu will be in effect — to take a look, visit ruthschris.com. Ruth’s Chris is located at 1777 Reistertown Road, Pikesville, Maryland. Reservations are always encouraged. Phone: 410-837-0033.

2. . Vernisage is known for its eclectic Russian, Eastern European and Middle Eastern cuisine. Enjoy a romantic dinner including soup or salad, a main dish, dessert and coffee. Vernisage is located at 1004 Reistertown Road, Pikesville. While Vernisage will be closed on Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14, it is taking reservations for Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011. Cost: $30 per person. For reservations, call 410-484-7701, or visitvernisagerestaurant.com.

3. . The restaurant is offering a special Valentine’s combination special, including your choice of a three-course or four-course dinner. For the three-course, choose a soup or salad, dinner and dessert. For the four-course, you’ll select an appetizer, soup or salad, dinner and dessert, which is served with a sweet, sparkling champagne. Mari Luna Latin Grille is located at 1010 Reistertown Rd. in Pikesville. Phone: 410-653-5151.

4. The National Aquarium. Experience "Love Under the Sea." Marvel at more than 16,000 animals and enjoy live music by guitarist Richard Barry. Cost per couple: $80 members/$125 non-members. Appetizers and drinks included. Reservations are required. The aquarium is located at 501 East Pratt St., Baltimore.

5. . Bring your sweetheart to spend an evening of wonderful music and talent at Germano's Trattoria in Baltimore. At 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, "take a romantic journey through the Jazz Standards of the Great American Songbook," states Germano's website. "Jazz guitarist Mike Gellar and vocalist Christiana Drapkin return to Germano's with their quartet to celebrate the ups and downs of love in song, with standards by George & Ira Gershwin, Rogers & Hart, Irving Berlin and more contemporary composers." The restaurant's food choices are Tuscan and other regional Italian cooking, and there are items to appeal to vegans, vegetarians and steak or seafood lovers, according to the website. Germano's is located at 300 S High St, Baltimore, MD 21202. For more information, visit http://www.germanostrattoria.com/ or call 410-752-4515.